MAY 2000: AFTER (FAA) AUDIT, AUSTRAL (ALA) WAS PRAISED BY "INSPECTION CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THE (ALA) MANAGEMENT TEAM, TECHNICAL STAFF, AND MAINTENANCE STAFF ARE PROFESSIONALS, WHO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR WORK - CONGRATS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!"

ALFREDO BENGOLEA, MANAGER SCHEDULED & HEAVY MAINTENANCE, REPLACES JAVIER REPETTO, WHO LEFT TO BECOME THE (GE) FIELD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR BUENOS AIRES.

March 2007: Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG) and Avianca (AVI) signed a code share agreement under which (ARG) passengers on the carrier's thrice-weekly flights to Bogota will be able to connect to (AVI)'s domestic services while (AVI) passengers flying to Argentina will have access to domestic flights operated by (ARG) or Austral Lineas Aereas (ALA).

August 2007: Austral (ALA) has transferred the last of 8 737-200s to parent, Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG). (ALA) is now an exclusive MD-80 operator with 19 of the type in service.

November 2007: Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG) is planning international expansion after boosting its fleet with 2 A340-200s leased from Air Canada (ACN). It has not earmarked the A340s fro specific routes, but expects to launch Paris non-stops before the end of the year. (ARG) has added 17 airplanes in the past quarter, including 7 for for its domestic arm, Austral (ALA). With additional 737s, (ARG) plans to revive routes to several cities, including Asuncion in Paraguay.

September 2008: The Argentine Senate authorized the re-nationalization of Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG) by a 46 to 21 vote. The legislature now will negotiate the purchase price for (ARG) and its Austral Lineas Aereas (ALA) subsidiary.

February 2009: Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG) signed a purchase agreement for 12 737-700s, Argentine Planning Minister, Julio De Vido told reporters, according to "Reuters." He said the airplanes will begin arriving in April.

(ARG)'s Austral (ALA) subsidiary took delivery of the second of three MD-88s. It said it acquired the 160-seat airplane from a Mexican source.

May 2009: Austral Lineas Aereas (ALA) signed an agreement to purchase 20 E190s. Embraer said the contract "will go into effect after fulfilling certain requirements and that should take place within two months." First delivery is slated for the first half of 2010. The airplane will be the Advanced Range model that has a range of 2,400 nmi/4,400 km and will feature a dual-class, 96-seat configuration. Embraer said (ALA) plans to use the E190s "mainly to ramp up its frequencies on domestic routes, with the potential of opening new markets, thus allowing the airline to fly nonstop routes inside Argentina as well as to destinations in South America."

June 2009: The Argentine government outlined its plans to "modernize" newly nationalized, Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG) and Austral Lineas Aereas (ALA) and indicated its commitment to a long-haul Airbus (EDS) order. The airlines were brought under state control six months ago. (ARG) recently took delivery of a new 737-700, the first new airplane purchased for the carrier in 16 years. A second will arrive before July and nine "similar airplanes" will be added on lease this year.

The government said it "has announced" the purchase of 15 - 20 A330s/A340s, although (EDS) indicated no such order on its orders and deliveries website. (ARG) currently operates six A340s.

Last month, the government ordered 20 96-seat, Embraer E190s for Austral (ALA) for delivery at a rate of two per month starting early next year. It said the $600 million purchase will be 85% financed by a loan from Brazil's (BNDES).

Argentine President, Cristina Kirchner called the airplane additions "not just an economic story - - it is also the restoration of national dignity." The statement said (ARG) intends to "explore new international routes to accommodate the rapid rise in tourists visiting from Europe and the USA."

September 2010: Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG) has taken delivery of its first two Embraer E190ARs for its Austral Líneas Aéreas (ALA) operation. The twinjets are part of a 20-airplane order placed last year after the Argentinean and Brazilian governments arranged a $700 million loan supported by Brazil’s development bank. (ALA)’s E-Jets also sport the airline’s new livery, which was unveiled in June, and are configured with eight seats up front and 88Y in economy. The jets have a range of 2,400 nm and offer in-seat in-flight entertainment.

“With (ALA) joining our list of operators, we now have 53 airlines flying the E-Jets in 36 countries,” says Embraer Executive VP Airline Market, Paulo César de Souza e Silva. “We are very proud to see the E190 in the colors of (ALA), and to have even closer commercial ties with Argentina, which has always had a dynamic air transport market and excellent growth potential. “We are certain that the E-Jets are the right tool for assisting in their development,” he adds.

The E190ARs will replace and expand (ALA)’s current fleet of MD-80s.

November 2010: Austral Lineas Aereas (ALA) took delivery of the fourth and fifth Embraer E190s (0389, LV-CEU; 0390, LV-CEV), ex-(PT-XNW; & PT-XNX) out of 20 it has on order. The airplanes are configured in a two-class, 96-seat layout. They will join the fleet immediately, serving domestic routes in (ALA)'s network.

June 2011: Flights were expected to gradually resume at Buenos Aires's Ezeiza and Aeroparque airports, which were shut down much of Tuesday June 7th owing to ash from Chile's Puyehue volcano that drifted over Argentina. SEE ATTACHED - - "ALA -2011-06-CHILE VOLCANO ERUPTION." The Argentine government said "improved meteorological conditions" and "the dispersion of the cloud of volcanic ash" would allow for a gradual resumption of flights.

Air service to, from and within Argentina was grounded for several hours, impacting multiple airlines, particularly Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG). "For safety reasons, all flights are cancelled due to volcanic ash clouds," (ARG) announced on its website. "Airports are closed and all operations suspended." Ascend reported that San Carlos de Bariloche Airport near the Chilean/Argentine border was "covered in ash" and that "several airplanes" including Austral Lineas Aereas (ALA) Embraer E190s were stranded there.

March 2012: Austral (ALA) has retired its last MD-81 leaving Laser (LSR), Olympia Aviation (OLA) and Orient Thai Airlines (OTH) as the only remaining MD-81 operators in the world. (ALA) still operates five MD-83s and a MD-88 along with its 20 E190s.

April 2012: Austral (ALA) will retire its last four remaining MD-80s (53015, LV-AYD; 49904, LV-BGV, 49906, LV-BGZ; and 49741, LV-BHH) by April 9. From April 10 on wards, it will just operate with its 20 E190s.

July 2012: Aerolíneas Argentinas (ARG) and co-sister, Austral (ALA) announced they will increase 18x-weekly, Montevideo - Buenos Aires joint services to 50x-weekly on August 1.

August 2012: Austral (ALA) will be the first carrier to operate scheduled services to the Rio Hondo (RHD) airport recently inaugurated by Argentinian President, Christina Kirchner in the city of Termas de Río Hondo in Santiago del Estero province that is famous for its hot springs. It will launch twice weekly, E190 service to the airport from Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newberry (AEP) on September 2.

September 2012: On 24 August, Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG) launched twice-weekly services from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Rio Hondo (RHD), a popular spa resort in the north of the country. The 1,000-kilometre route will be served on a twice-weekly basis using its regional subsidiary Austral (ALA)’s 96-seat E190s. The airport, which was officially launched by the Argentine President, Christina Fernandez de Kirchner as recently as last month, does not yet have any other scheduled services, due to its relative proximity to two other already established airports in Santiago del Estero and Tucumán.

Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with regional carrier, Sol Líneas Aéreas ((IATA) Code: 8R, based at Rosario Fisherton airport (ROS)) that foresees that (ARG) and its subsidiary Austral (ALA) would coordinate schedules and offer connections between the networks of all three airlines. Sol currently operates four Saab 340As and two Saab 340Bs on regional routes.

The new airplanes, which will allow (ALA) to expand its domestic presence, are configured with 96 seats in a two-class layout (8C in executive and 88Y in economy) with a modern on board entertainment system equipped with individual monitors.

March 2014: Aerolineas Argentinas (ARG), the country’s flag carrier that in the previous week added two international routes, has further expanded its network with the addition of a new domestic service from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Parana (PRA) on March 5th. The 362 km sector will be served daily, utilizing Austral Airlines (ALA)’s 96-seat E190s. This airport pair is already served by SOL Airlines’ six weekly services.

July 2015: The E190s operate with an on board entertainment system equipped with individual monitors and will see service on both domestic Argentine flights as well as on regional routes to Asuncion, and Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves.